Absolutely. I'll start over since I'm not sure where I cut out the first time.
Chair and members of the committee, thank you for having me. My name is Tyler Threadgill. I am vice-president and head of North American government affairs for the LKQ Corporation.
Our organization supports Bill C-267 because it creates a practical pathway to advance right to repair in Canada. We do, however, believe that the bill should be strengthened to include automotive repair within its scope.
The automotive sector has changed. Repair is no longer only about access to a physical part. It increasingly depends on software, diagnostic information, telematics, security credentials, calibration tools and vehicle-generated data. If those inputs are restricted, an independent repairer may have the part and the expertise but may still be unable to complete the job.
That is why we're asking the committee to support two focused amendments that explicitly name the automotive sector.
First, the bill should expressly include vehicle electronic systems, software, diagnostic, telematics and security systems within the definition of an electronic product.
Second, the framework should recognize that vehicle owners and their chosen repairers need reasonable access to the parts, tools, information, software, security credentials and data required for repairs on terms no less favourable than those available to the manufacturer-authorized repairers without technological or contractual barriers.
Canada has relied on the voluntary Canadian automotive service information standards, or CASIS, to support access to automotive repair information, but CASIS has not kept pace with today's automotive market and lacks the enforcement tools needed to guarantee meaningful access for independent repairers. That access is essential to preserving competition, consumer choice and affordable repair options.
These amendments do not try to turn Bill C-267 into a comprehensive automotive right to repair regime; however, because this is a framework bill, we believe it's important that automotive repair be considered from the outset.
Bill C-267 provides an opportunity to strengthen Canada's approach to right to repair. We encourage the committee to adopt these amendments and use this bill as the foundation for the comprehensive and enforceable right to repair framework that Canada needs.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look forward to your questions. Hopefully I don't have any more Internet issues.